We Were Staying in Paris…part deux

When we stayed in Paris in April 2015 we really fell in love with France, especially our neighborhood and apartment in Montmartre. Here are a few more of our favorites and tips for a trip to the City of Lights.

Drink with the locals at Le Super Coin

Andrew is a major beer guy. We have such a great beer scene in Maine that whenever we travel he tries to sample local beers and go to a local beer bar. France is known for wine but we were able to find a cute beer bar called Le Super Coin.

It was within walking distance from our apartment, about 15 minutes, and carried regional and other European beers. There was a big soccer game on so there were lots of locals cheering on their teams and we had a blast. Everyone was super friendly; we even had a pizza delivered to the bar because we didn’t want to leave for dinner! It is a must do if you’re interested in good beer or cider and want to feel that local vibe.

Walk among the tombstones

Père Lachaise Cemetery is one of the most visited cemeteries in the world. The Doors are one of my favorite bands so of course we needed to make a stop to see Jim Morrison’s grave. The cemetery was a little out of the way but it was on my list so I insisted that we make the trek to the edge of the city. Père Lachaise is huge and is the burial place of many well known people. Chopin, Colette, and Oscar Wilde are just a few other tombs that you can visit. There are maps posted at the entrances so if you’re looking for someone specific you can find them, but you’ll find yourself stopping along the way to admire other tombs in this beautiful cemetery.

Rent with Airbnb

Our apartment in Montmartre was the first experience that we had renting through Airbnb and it couldn’t have been better.

The apartment was small but it was just us, and the location was perfect. It was close to the metro and great restaurants were right around the corner. It made us feel like we had our own little apartment in Paris and wasn’t so cookie cutter, like a hotel would have been. It had character and neighbors who would greet you with a “Bonjour” as they made their way through the courtyard with their groceries. Here is the link to the apartment.

Visit Notre Dame

As iconic as the Eiffel Tower, you can’t possibly go to Paris and not visit this church. It was completed in 1345 and is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture.

The attention to detail in the design is impressive, from the flying buttresses to the gargoyles, Notre Dame is a must see when visiting Paris. Now, one thing that we didn’t do but I wish that we did was exploring the catacombs. Andrew wasn’t into it but I’m fascinated by what is under the city of Paris, no level of convincing would change his mind though. Maybe next time.

5. Don’t Plan Every Minute

You’re in Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world! Eat the escargot, drink the carafe of wine at lunch (and then need a nap afterward), go explore the historic sights. Just make sure that you are taking everything in around you and be flexible. We had wanted to visit Grand Palais but there was a major event going on there, so across the street we went to Petit Palais.

Day Drinking

Picking out the right fromage

Petit Palais

Embrace the city and what it has to offer. Some of the best days that Andrew and I had were just wandering around and slowly discovering the city. We never would have visited Les Invalides and seen Napoleon Bonaparte’s tomb if we hadn’t been strolling around that part of town, it was not on our list.

Les Invalides

Napoleon’s Tomb

Les Invalides

I hope that these Paris posts help in your planning! Or inspire you to take a trip, we loved Paris and can’t wait to visit again.